How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 323

Episode 323: Building Bulk (2)

Koristman was a master craftsman—almost on par with a Grandmaster.

It seed he had given so advice after watching Lochter wield his twin swords in the training hall, and Lochter appeared to have taken great interest in it.

“Union.”

“Union??”

“The swords seem ready to beco one with their master, he said. Then asked why I only swing them without uniting with them.”

…What’s that supposed to an? Just swinging them?

“He told to open my heart first.”

???

Open my heart?

Reto already talks like a mystic, and now Koristman too?

When I tilted my head, clearly confused, Lochter also shook his head.

“I’ve thought it over all night, but I couldn’t find an answer.”

“Was it worth agonizing over that much? Maybe it was just a passing remark.”

“Strangely, it struck a chord.”

“So I’ve decided to go find him directly.”

I didn’t know what kind of advice Koristman might give, but if it could help Lochter, I welcod it.

If it led to a breakthrough with Richard’s fifth sword issue, all the better.

“Judging by your outfit, it looks like you’re leaving the estate.”

“I’m heading back to my lodgings.”

“And the negotiation? What’s my role now?”

“Please protect the Lenon Family for the ti being.”

“Looks like the deal went well.”

Lochter nodded.

He already intended to stay here a while longer and had wanted to talk with Arthur anyway. Things were lining up for him.

“Don’t worry about this place. I’ll do my best.”

“I’m counting on you.”

While we talked, we walked through the corridor and stepped outside the estate’s front gate.

It was quiet.

Seeing no one around, Lochter narrowed his eyes slightly.

“No one to see you off?”

“I asked Antonio for a discreet departure. Soone is here that the family would feel uncomfortable seeing.”

“Uncomfortable?”

Clatter clatter—

Soon after, a carriage arrived.

The figure who stepped down from the driver’s seat was the Golden Mask.

He was the reason I wanted to leave quietly.

The Lenon Family wouldn’t want to be seen associating with Azonne’s close aide.

The Golden Mask approached and politely opened the carriage door, bowing.

As I stepped inside, he turned his gaze to Lochter, eyes gleaming.

“Sir Lochter, what an honor to et you here.”

“No matter where you go in Aintrier, people speak of nothing but you. The Lord himself is very interested as well. May I arrange a dinner between you two?”

The Golden Mask was visibly excited.

He seed confident that Lochter wouldn’t refuse a al with the Lord.

Lochter looked at , nodded, and said,

“Definitely an uncomfortable presence.”

“…Pardon?”

Ignoring the baffled Golden Mask, Lochter turned and disappeared back into the estate.

The Golden Mask looked to , perplexed.

I smiled and said,

“Sir Lochter’s just… not great with strangers.”

The carriage began moving quietly.

I glanced back at the Lenon estate.

I was returning with better results than expected, so I felt lighthearted.

I opened the window and waved in a particular direction.

“Stay healthy, little lady.”

From one of the windows, Märchen, held in Antonio’s arms, waved back.

Clunk—

The carriage passed out of the estate and onto the main road connecting to the city center.

I glanced toward the driver’s seat.

“You know the location of my lodgings, right?”

“Of course.”

I hadn’t told him, but he was already heading there as if it were natural.

I leaned into the sofa and continued.

“A few days ago, so flies gathered around the inn. I cleaned them out. Think there’ll be new ones?”

“That’s not sothing I’m aware of.”

“Is that so? Well, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Azonne’s spies.

I’d just been testing the waters, but seeing no reaction, I turned my focus to the Dark Sales catalog.

The Golden Mask remained by my side because of this book.

Though he’d promised to send it to later, he said he had to be present when I set the auction prices.

I couldn’t defy the Dark Sales system, so I planned to finalize everything here in the carriage.

Starting with [Magic-Luminous Spider, Cricket]:

Top negotiation bid: [8,000,000G]

“…Huh? Wow. They went big.”

I’d previously raised the bid to 5.5 million gold to provoke Spider Queen Azolett, but now she’d raised it by another 2.5 million.

She must’ve thought I lacked funds after seeing my modest increase.

She was going all-in, trying to scare off competitors with a massive raise.

I scratched my chin.

It was a bold move. But…

“Too bad. I’ve got unlimited bullets right now.”

I wasn’t just rich—I was disgustingly loaded.

I’d drained the Lenon Family’s coffers, and in pure gold coin value, I probably ranked in the top three in Aintrier.

So—

Top negotiation bid: [8,130,511G]

I added a ssy-looking 130,511 gold on top of her bid—like a desperate final push.

A psychological move to make it seem like I’d scraped together everything I had.

“Let her feel the need to scrape her soul together.”

The Black Stars weren’t wealthy. They focused more on plundering than profit-making.

If Richard weren’t the designated owner of Cricket, she wouldn’t even be bothering with this negotiation.

If she finds out I’m the one bidding, she’ll try to kill . I’ll need to be careful.

Next: [Kunta’s Soulbound Doll]

Top negotiation bid: [20,000,000G]

…That’s insane. Who the hell is bidding?

The price had jumped by 10 million in just one day.

Way above its value—it was clear that both sides were obsessed with the doll.

‘Should I crash the party just to stir things up?’

There was one way to figure out who they were.

After a mont of thought, I turned to the Golden Mask.

“Can I get information on who’s participating in a specific item’s negotiation?”

“Which item do you an?”

“I just want to know if it’s even possible.”

“That particular information can’t be bought.”

“I’ll give you 50 million gold.”

“…My apologies. The Lord has made this restriction absolute.”

…Why ask if you can’t sell it, clown.

After a brief hesitation, I flipped the page.

Didn’t want to make unnecessary enemies. There was still ti left in the Dark Sales period.

“That should do it.”

After reviewing another World Tree Union item, [Weapon Breaker], I closed the catalog and passed it toward the driver’s seat.

The carriage continued on in silence.

Once we passed the city center and approached the outskirts—

“How did you persuade them?”

The Golden Mask finally asked.

It was an abrupt question, but the intent was obvious.

He wanted to know how I’d swayed the Lenon Family.

I considered ignoring him, but changed my mind. He must have his reasons.

“Do I need to explain how to win a rchant’s heart?”

“So it was profit, in the end?”

“What else?”

“Even when the profit could lead to greater loss?”

“Only ti will tell.”

Silence returned.

Neigh—!

When we arrived, the Golden Mask stepped down and opened the door.

As I stepped out and looked at him, he said:

“What’s visible to the eye isn’t all there is. The Lord has concerns, so act with deeper insight.”

So it was a warning, after all. I chuckled and replied,

“Give that exact ssage back to the Lord.”

“That what’s visible isn’t everything.”

I turned and entered the inn.

“Hey!”

“…Huh?”

As soon as I stepped in, Karl ca rushing over. Looking past him, I heard noisy voices coming from the first floor.

“When will the delegate show up already!?”

“I arrived first, so rember my face—I’m the first negotiator!”

“Nonsense! Our Radolph Firm brought the most non-humans! We’re the lead negotiators!”

The dining hall was a ss of arguing voices. Sounded like a crowd.

I looked at Karl. He sighed and said,

“They’re the slave rchants.”

“Slave rchants?”

“After the word got out through the leaves, they ca rushing here in less than a day—brought all their non-humans too. Out of goodwill, apparently.”

“So then…”

Karl pointed upstairs.

He’d apparently housed the non-humans on the second and third floors.

“It’s packed to the third floor. We might need to relocate.”

“That many?”

“Now you see how busy I’ve been? I’m not your butler, you know. Go fix this yourself.”

“You did all this personally? Why not use the ghosts?”

“Do you want the rchants scared off? We need to win them over, not spook them.”

…Faces, huh.

I blinked at Karl as he scratched his bald head. Then I looked toward the dining room.

“Not a single rchant ran away?”

“Who do you think I am? The great Karl.”

“Strange. Why didn’t they run?”

“What’s that supposed to an?”

Just then, a familiar figure ca hurrying from the dining room.

Notura.

No longer dressed like a vagrant, he now looked respectable—almost like a firm leader.

Seeing , he bowed deeply.

“Apologies. Guests arrived suddenly, and there was no one else to handle them, so I stepped in.”

“Well done. But what happened?”

“That is…”

Notura hesitated, glancing around nervously. I nodded and sent Karl into the dining hall.

Monts later, the previously rowdy room fell silent. As the tension eased, Notura let out a quiet sigh.

“The rchants ca for negotiations, but at first, none of them wanted to enter the building.”

“I guess Karl greeted them initially.”

Notura gave an awkward smile. I knew sothing had felt off.

“As the one responsible for responding appropriately, I had to dress for the part.”

“Where did you get the money?”

“Lady Lily provided it.”

“Lily did?”

“When I rang the bell, the innkeeper gave the funds.”

She really was making use of him in more ways than just feeding him.

Still, I was glad Notura was here.

Having Karl—a forr assassin—deal with rchants didn’t sit right, and ghosts were even worse.

Lily? Not even worth considering.

Leaving Notura here had been a masterstroke.

“I’ll be counting on you going forward.”

“Will that really be okay? I’m just… a vagrant.”

“A vagrant is still a person.”

“How are things?”

“T-The mood isn’t bad. If we handle the profit-sharing properly, I think we can win them all over… but the issue is the value of the shares.”

“Share value?”

“We haven’t set a value for the distribution rights yet, so I think there’ll be so negotiation. I’m not sure how long it’ll take…”

“No need to worry. The value’s already set.”

“…Sorry?”

“The Lenon Firm bought 15% equity for gold.”

“Really? How much did you sell for?”

I grinned and nodded toward the dining room.

“Just watch. You’ll see—it’s quite a haul.”

I might’ve just struck gold. Hopefully I wouldn’t end up buried in it.